Famous photonics names set to disappear

LONDON  Some famous global names in the optoelectronics and photonics sectors are set to disappear later this month when Gooch & Housego plc (Ilminster, England) celebrates its 60th anniversary with a major integration of its various component operating companies.

The new group will unite leading European and North American players in the manufacture of crystal optics, electro-optics, acousto-optic switches and modulators. In all the components subsidiaries employ 310 people, mostly in the U.S and Europe.

The company stresses there will be no job losses involved in the remake, the fruits of which will first be seen at the Photonics West Conference and exhibition in San Jose, California, which takes place between January 19 to 24.

The re-launch will see Gooch & Housego UK (Ilminster); Cleveland Crystals (Cleveland, Ohio); NEOS Technologies (Melbourne, Florida); Landwehr Electronic (Norderstedt, Germany) and Sifam Fibre Optics (Torquay, England) grouped as one company and one brand with headquarters in the U.K.

All the manufacturing operations owned by the individual subsidiaries will be retained and the target is to create much more synergy between the development and manufacturing activities of the companies.

The move  described to EE Times as an integration rather than a consolidation  comes exactly sixty years after Archie Gooch and Leslie Housego collaborated to form a company that would emerge as a leader in precision optics and crystalline materials.

"The launch … will enable us to enhance the products and services we offer and is key to driving the next phase of growth of the business. Internally it will open up new opportunities, including the creation of senior positions in North America and the Asia Pacific region as we grow our global presence," said Gareth Jones, CEO of Gooch and Housego.

"As well as seeing us meet the market demand for reduced supplier numbers and simplified supply chains, our global integration as Gooch & Housego will enable us to better leverage the combined skills from across the organization to develop new products that will enable us to enter new markets," added Jones.

Gooch & Housego UK is a leading manufacturer of acousto-optic Q-switches; Cleveland Crystals focuses on the growth and application of non-linear crystals and is a specialist in the fabrication of large aperture KDP and KD*P optics; NEOS Technologies designs and makes complimentary acousto-optic technologies; Landwehr Electronic specializes in high-frequency microelectronics for laser control systems; and Sifam Fibre Optics is a specialist in the design and manufacture of fibre optic communications systems.

Two other subsidiaries of the holding group  Chromodynamics, which makes medical devices, and Optronic Laboratories, a developer of subsystems for biomedical use  are not involved in the reorganization.